Chapter 10
As they headed down the stairs, Maggie, having discarded her cap and hood, caught the curious gazes of the soldiers in the barracks.
She walked past proudly, holding hands with Dylan and Angus.
Further curious looks came their way as they headed for the great hall, where they intended to meet up with the others, who should be finishing their breakfast.
As they approached, it was apparent that something was not right. Loud noises and yelling spilled from the hall as Cailin burst through the doors. He stormed past them with a brusque, “Get out of me way.”
“I’ve never seen him so angry,” Dylan observed.
“’Tis not like him at all, from what I ken,” Angus answered.
“We need to get in there. Something’s wrong.
” Maggie tore her gaze from Cailin’s fleeing figure and back toward the castle entry.
She didn’t like what she was hearing from inside.
She pulled Angus and Dylan along with her and passed swiftly through the doors, to discover a chaotic scene.
Ashley was in tears. Cormac and Robert were on the verge of fisticuffs and Jenna and Irene were at their men’s sides, glaring at each other.
Others in the hall were also indulging in spats of their own.
“Oh, no! This is Brielle’s doing,” Maggie said.
She let go of the two men’s hands and focused on the room.
“Calmness reign at the castle this day. Make their anger go away. Peace and quiet once again. Settle upon these women and men. So mote it be.”
Abruptly everything came to a standstill.
Robert seemed surprised to discover himself holding onto the front of Cormac’s shirt.
He let go and glanced around at the others.
Irene and Jenna looked embarrassed and Ashley stopped crying, wiping at her eyes.
As if on cue, all eyes turned to Maggie and the men behind her.
Expressions morphed from curiosity to astonishment.
“Maggie, why are ye dressed in Alec’s clothing?” Irene asked.
“I have some news to share with ye all,” Maggie said. “Dylan, can ye bring Cailin back here, please?”
“Sure.” Dylan turned to leave, just as Cailin re-entered the hall.
“I dinnae ken what came over me, but I found myself out on the practice field, beating the life out of a bale of straw.” Cailin appeared frazzled, and ran a hand through his hair.
“I believe ye were all under a spell,” Maggie explained. “And ’tis nae the first time.”
“A spell that you cast!” Brielle, still disguised as Maggie, had followed Cailin inside.
If they were astonished before, the castle residents now seemed unable to comprehend what they were seeing. Their heads turned from Maggie to Brielle and back again.
“What goes on here?” Robert demanded.
“She’s pretending to be me, to confuse you all,” Brielle stated, calmly eyeing the others.
“Yer the one who’s in disguise, Brielle.” Maggie’s eyes were alight with anger. “Ye came here to hurt these good people. I was sent by my Aunt Edna to send ye on yer way, isnae that right Uncle Angus?”
“Aye, Maggie, ’tis true.” Angus cast his gaze slowly over the others in the group, making eye contact with each in turn.
“’Tis a lie,” Brielle announced. “Ye’ve obviously bewitched my good uncle. She’s been at the heart of all of these problems! The bread in the kitchen, the horses escaping, the apple orchard and this morning’s events. If ye think on it, ye’ll surely see I’m telling the truth!”
The room came alive with multiple voices, questioning what they were hearing.
Maggie spoke up. “Dinnae believe her! It was I who broke the spells that she cast in the first place!”
“I know my own niece,” Angus affirmed, “and she came with me to Breaghacraig, disguised as Alec. Ye can be assured I am telling the truth.”
“He’s right,” Dylan added. “Even I was fooled by Brielle. From the moment she arrived, I’ve always thought something was off and if you think about it Jenna, you remember she didn’t even recognize you when you saw her.
When I went to check on Alec this morning and I found Maggie—my Maggie—I knew what a fool I’d been.
One look at her and there was no doubt in my mind.
” He took Maggie’s hand in his. “This Maggie is the true Maggie. She would never do anything to hurt any of you.”
Robert pointed to Brielle. “Cailin, Cormac, seize her. She’ll need to be locked away before she does any more harm,” Robert stated.
Cailin and Cormac strode to Brielle’s side.
Before Brielle could react, Maggie cast a spell, freezing her in place.
Unable to move, Brielle was no longer a threat, but to be on the safe side, Maggie cast a spell of protection over Cailin and Cormac.
“Ye cannae do this to me! Ye’ll regret it,” Brielle shrieked. Cailin and Cormac each grabbed one of her arms. Brielle struggled to no avail. Her frustration at being unable to break Maggie’s spell was evident in her expression.
“Lock her up, lads,” Robert ordered, as Brielle was dragged from the room. “We dinnae want her to escape.”
Chester wriggled out of his hiding spot beneath the table and ran to Dylan, practically turning himself inside out in his excitement. He hadn’t gone near Dylan since Brielle was around.
“Hello, Chester,” Maggie said, reaching her hand out to pet him. “’Tis good to see you again.”
“There, we have further proof! Chester hasnae left Cormac’s side since ye’ve been spending all yer time with Brielle. I understand why, now.” Robert smiled as he watched the dog wriggling every which way, as Maggie and Dylan showered him with attention.
“Well, I for one, am very relieved,” Irene said. “I havenae had many good thoughts for that woman. Something about her set me on edge, from the very moment I met her.”
“I knew there was something odd about her. She had no idea who I was when she first arrived and I was pretty sure after spending a few days with her in Glendaloch that she would remember me,” Jenna agreed.
Maggie left Dylan’s side and walked across to Jenna.
“I’m sorry she deceived ye in my name. I couldnae forget ye—or ye, Ashley.
” She hugged both women, one after the other before turning to Irene.
“Irene, I’m so glad to meet ye. I’ve always wanted to visit Breaghacraig; I just never thought it would be under these circumstances. ”
“Now we must decide what we’re to do with Brielle,” Angus announced. “Edna didnae make her intentions clear to us and I believe things have moved far more quickly than she anticipated.”
“Maggie, why did ye nae tell us who ye were right from the start?” Robert asked.
“Aye. I was wondering the same,” Cailin added.
“When Edna told me she wanted me to come to Breaghacraig to rid ye of Brielle, she said it was important that I be in disguise. I wasnae certain why. The only ones who knew my true identity were Edna, Angus and Brielle,” Maggie explained.
“I’m sorry to have fooled ye fer so long, but I believe that Edna was trying to avoid the confusion that was sure to set in when ye had two Maggie’s in yer presence.
Brielle may have reacted badly and done more damage if she had been found out sooner.
” Maggie anxiously twirled her fingers through her hair.
“We managed to surprise her today, and that worked to our advantage.”
“Are we safe from her now? Or can she harm us from her cell below stairs?” Robert asked.
“I hope so, but I’m not sure what she is truly capable of.
So far I’ve been able to stop her from doing any real harm, but she is a powerful witch and I don’t believe we’ve seen the worst of what she can do.
I have cast a spell on her that will temporarily keep her from mischief.
I will need to find a more permanent solution, though.
I would like to speak with her first, if someone can show me the way. ”
Maggie observed the others in the room. They all still appeared to be stunned by the events of the past few minutes and it took another minute before anyone responded.
Robert spoke. “Of course, as soon as Cormac and Cailin come back, I’ll have one of them escort ye down to see her. Why do ye nae sit and eat a bite first? Ye must be verra hungry after that long sleep ye had.”
“Aye. Uncle Angus brought me some food, but in our hurry to come and explain things to ye, I’m afraid I didn’t eat much,” Maggie smiled.
“And I didn’t eat more than a bannock and a pear yesterday.
” Her eyes surveyed all the warm and welcoming faces of the MacKenzie’s and she suddenly felt very much at home.
“How do ye feel this morn?” Irene asked. “We were all quite worried about ye when ye wouldnae wake yesterday.”
“I’m fine. Aunt Edna helped me escape from the spell Brielle cast, and then I slept peacefully throughout the rest of the night.”
It seemed to Maggie as if she were on display for the next few minutes. She and Dylan helped themselves to some food and Maggie looked up to discover everyone else watching her intently as she ate.
Angus cleared his throat and their attention turned to him. “Mayhap we should let these two have their breakfast in peace.”
“Aye. I’ll see where Cailin and Cormac have gone off to and I’ll send one of them back for ye, Maggie,” Robert said as he turned to leave the room.
“Thank ye,” she agreed, around a mouthful of bannocks.
The group turned in unison and filed out of the hall, leaving Maggie and Dylan alone. As soon as they were gone, Dylan sat back in his chair and put an arm around Maggie’s shoulders. “I’m so happy you’re really here now.”